This study presents the preliminary magnetic results from analyses of the Quaternary red-soils and the fine grain sediments within the underlying conglomerate bed of the Linkou Terrace in northern Taiwan.

Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that the fine grain sediments taken from the conglomerate bed have extremely low susceptibilities relative to those of the red-soils. This phenomenon suggests that the source of the red-soil probably did not originate from the weathering of the conglomerate bed. From both paleomagnetic and rock magnetic results, it is thought that the red-soil bed was deposited during the period between the Jaramillo normal event and the Brunhes normal epoch, or later.

Stratigraphic variations of magnetic susceptibility of the red-soil samples before and after CBD (citrate-bicarbonate-dithionite) treatment show the same trend: the lower part of the red-soil bed has values about two times higher than those of the upper part. In addition, susceptibility of the upper part after CBD treatment has been reduced by more than 60%, but that of the lower part only has been reduced by less than 40%. It is known that CBD treatment can resolve hematite, goethite and ultra finegrained magnetite. So, the results of this study might suggest that the upper part has much more soil development and lateritization than the lower part. Furthermore, the major (and possibly the original) magnetic mineral of the red-soil is magnetite.

In the area neighboring the Linkou Terrace to the north, there was a lot of volcanic activity during the early Quaternary. Magnetite has been identified as the major magnetic mineral of the volcanic rocks. Thus, it is proposed that the source of the red-soil bed in the Linkou area developed, at least partly, from the volcanic rocks. In addition, the boundary between the two groups, with distinct very different magnetic susceptibilities, might be used as an indicator for stratigraphic correlation in the study area.